Trailer Towing Speed

W

Wallkerbay

New member
While We were coming back from the rondavbue in North Carolina I was only going about 40-45 mph. I have a 22CD. My tow vehical is a 1999 FORD F- 250 SUPERDUTY pickup. I donot like to feel the bumps twice. The trailer is a 2006 Magic Tilt. :? Does any one tow faster or slower. I feel that My wife and I will get there whin we get there. My load is more important, than any speed. 8)
 
I usually tow at or near the speed limit unless road conditions require me to do otherwise. Haven't really had a problem with that.
 
rogerbum":3nzvr2ib said:
I usually tow at or near the speed limit unless road conditions require me to do otherwise.
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Ditto. I just remember to anticipate what could happen and react PRIOR to it possibly occurring. I leave more than enough stopping distance, merge left for other vehicles entering the freeway, get over to the exit lane early and I always believe most drivers up here are morons etc.
 
Our tow speed depends on conditions, but when on freeways or Interstates, I run just over 60 mph generally. Too slow, and you are creating a road hazard for those coming up behind you. I try to blend with the prevailing traffic as much as possible.

Also, our truck has the 6 speed Allison automatic transmission. Just like the "sweet spot" for boat RPMs, I seem to get my best mileage with the truck in 6th gear and not lugging.

As much as I drive defensively, with over 35,000 miles towing the C-Dory, we have had to make a couple relatively fast stops. The ABS brakes on the truck and the elec/hydraulic on the boat trailer do an admirable job. I leave LOTS of space in front of us in traffic.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I tow with a Ford Explorer 6-cylinder, and usually cruise at between 55 and 60 mph, without overdrive, engine turning at about 2500 rpms. If there's a good tailwind I'll put it in overdrive and go as fast as the speed limit allows. I've gone to Florida roundtrip from Wisconsin the last two winters, with no problems other than the wheels being out of alignment on the trailer causing excessive tire wear the first year. Problem was quickly corrected. Actually, it takes a lot of the pressure off driving if you're going a little slower than the rest of the traffick. You almost never have to change lanes to pass, because you never have to pass, or slow down for somebody going slower than you.
 
Wallkerbay":1k163o0m said:
While We were coming back from the rondavbue in North Carolina I was only going about 40-45 mph. I have a 22CD. My tow vehical is a 1999 FORD F- 250 SUPERDUTY pickup. I donot like to feel the bumps twice. The trailer is a 2006 Magic Tilt. :? Does any one tow faster or slower. I feel that My wife and I will get there whin we get there. My load is more important, than any speed. 8)
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You certainly have the truck to tow with, about the same as mine.. 2000 F250 Ext Cab long box with 7.3 diesel.
Most the time I don’t even know the boat is back there, pulls like a dream. Trailer is Ez-Loader with duel axels. If yours is a duel axel keeping it level is important, the frame behind the rear wheel should be the same height as at the hitch. If you have single axel than level isn’t as important but should be maintained; I personally prefer duel over single.
Most of times I stick with the speed limit, but have on occasion exceeded 70mph with no concern other than blowing my camper back off. :shock:
 
Neal, were you doing that on a 65 mph highway? I wouldn't drive a car, no less tow a boat with a 3/4 ton, that slow on a typical interstate. Too dangerous.
 
I tow my 26' C-Dory at 60 -65 mph. Have had no problems. Also have a tandem axle MajicTilt trailer. I tow with a Dodge 1 ton dually diesel.

As I was once rear ended towing my 22' CD I always attach a 12" bright red fluorescent fishing float ball to the lower unit of the motor just for safety sake. If someone hits that then they are morons.
 
We towed both the 25, 22 and Tom cat at 55 to 62 mph. Occasionally we would go faster, but the rigs are designed to do the speed limit.
 
Neal,

Your tow speed will increase as your confidence in the tow rig increases. We tow at the speed limit with the Super Duty and the 11,000# plus TomCat. On Vancouver Island we tow the 100 kph limit with confidence. Just use care and lots of caffein!
 
I tow the Tom Cat at 60 - 65 mph, but a lot depends on the terrain. I go slower in the hills mainly to save fuel and for safety going downhill. I drive an 08 2500 GMC Duramax/Allison. Love the transmission.

Warren
 
The sweet spot for towing my CD-22 with a Sienna minivan is 55-60. Very stable with the dual axle trailer. I noticed early on that the boat trailers MUCH easier when I strap down bow and stern tightly with supplementary tension belts so that there is virtually no bouncing or vibration of the boat on the trailer -- rather they become a single unit. That helps a lot. When I tow with the boat secured only at the bow eye it's very bouncy and unstable. Are you securing the boat well to the trailer? That may be the issue.

Matt
 
Forgot to mention two other essentials (for the Tom Cat, at any rate): electric over hydraulic brakes, and a load equalizing hitch.

Warren
 
Our 2005 CD 22 rides on a Magic Tilt trailer with surge break mechanism. The tow vehicle is a 2007 Chevy Silverado crew cab pickup, 1500 series half-ton, heavy duty, with 6.0 litre V-8 engine, and tow package.

All this is new to us this year (2009), so we have been ascending the learning curve. Since the end of May we have trailered the boat an estimated 2,600 miles from our home base in central Lower Michigan. Mostly trips have been in Michigan, but one trip to the Thousand Islands on the St. Lawrence River in northern New York accounts for about 1,200 miles.

Generally, we find it comfortable towing at about 60-65 mph on expressways (our Michigan speed limit on X-ways in 70 mph), and back off to 50-55 mph on main two-lane highways with 55 mph speed limits. A lot depends on condition of the roads – bad pavement dictates slower travel, lots of curves slows us down, etc.. At these speeds we generally can rely on cruise control to maintain a steady pace. Gas mileage drops to about 10-11 mpg towing, from about 15-17 mpg without boat and trailer.

Dick Bolton (after approval by Wife Sharon B)
 
Depends on the road and the traffic - but with a Diesel 2500HD truck, the R25 and trailer at 10,500 pounds tows quiet as a mouse at 70 on expressways... Coming down out of the mountains of the Virginias on 2 lane highway, we were considerably slower 40-50 much of the time...
 
We have never had any problems towing my CD22. Always do about 50 - 55 mph and try to stay ahead of need to slow down and stop.

In 2004 I towed the boat from Oak Harbour, Wa. back to Fairbanks. Also had a new BIg Foot cabover camper on my F-350 Ford Diesel. One evening in Canada just after dark, while trying to make a campground, a young moose stepped into the road. We passed so close I could have wipped its nose off with a hankerchef. What braking I had time to do worked just fine with surge brakes. Other than that once no problems.
 
Levitation":t3a2243n said:
Depends on the road and the traffic - but with a Diesel 2500HD truck, the R25 and trailer at 10,500 pounds tows quiet as a mouse at 70 on expressway
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What is your usual mileage at that speed?

Warren
 
You couldn't have a better tow vehicle. I use to have a F-250 diesel, towed a 25' Airstream, 8000 lbs.+, and it was rock solid. Now I tow the same trailer with a diesel Excursion. I always tow the speed limit but when the road/traffic conditions are not ideal I slow down and leave plenty of room for stopping.
 
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